I’ve been wanting to visit Knoxville for about a year or two, mostly because it has a lot of job opportunities that appeal to me but also, it’s similar to Clarksville but is more densely populated with a cooler downtown scene. We’ve driven through it before on the way to Gatlinburg and it looked like a fun little road trip.
So, when a rainbow-book-tastic Facebook invite advertised the Knoxville Book Festival, right around the time my husband and I were looking for a distraction, it did not take much convincing to prompt us to go.
Plus, I love books and have been super sucked into reading lately and have made it a goal to write more this year.
The Knoxville Book Festival was perfect for that vibe with its panels of authors, writer-led classes and book related fun. There were classes to make fairy crowns and color wooden bookmarks. The main ballroom was lined with row after row of writers selling their adult and young adult books.
Held at the Knoxville Convention Center, 701 Henley St, Knoxville, TN 37902, the festival was May 2 and 3, 2026 from 10 am – 5 pm Saturday and 10 am – 4 pm on Sunday.
It describes itself as, “a two-day celebration of literature, featuring bestselling authors, inspiring panels, and a vibrant community of readers. Explore books, connect with creators, and let your imagination soar!”
We went to a few panels and classes and found some new favorite books. It was fun to look around at all the vendors and get ideas for what to read or how to write next.
Some places to stay nearby are the Hilton Garden Inn Knoxville West / Cedar Bluff which is the sponsored lodging, as well as the Ancient Lore Village which is worth either a night stay or a day visit to see a shire-like venue. They offer dinner or brunch reservations as well as axe throwing and archery.
There’s also a lot of good restaurants nearby such as The French Market Creperie and The Chop House. The convention offered a few food vendors and a few food trucks. It was nice to have an excuse to hang out in Knoxville for the weekend.
The convention was fun for readers, writers and husbands who are excited about their wife’s love of booktok. My husband won major brownie points carrying my books wearing a witty t-shirt.
Tickets are available at https://knoxvillebookfestival.com/
